Rowing

ROWING’S VARSITY EIGHT TAKES FIRST IN ITS HEAT, ADVANCES TO CREW CLASSIC GRAND FINAL

Mar 27, 2010

SAN DIEGO – The Sacramento State women's varsity eight posted the fastest time in its heat during the first day of the San Diego Crew Classic Saturday morning at Crown Point Shores Park in Mission Bay. With the victory, the boat advanced to Sunday morning's Cal Cup grand final.

In tomorrow's grand final, which takes place at 10:40 a.m., the Hornets' top boat will face Tulsa, San Diego, Stanford Lightweights, Oklahoma and St. Joseph's. The Hornets placed second in the Cal Cup grand final last year, fourth in both 2008 and 2006, and third in 2005. The team is seeking its first Cal Cup championship since 2000.

The Hornets won their heat with a time of 7:05.12 over 2,000 meters, followed by Tulsa (7:10.55), Kansas State (7:16.09), Loyola Marymount (7:17.00), British Columbia (7:30.40) and Sonoma State (7:51.92). The top two teams in each of the three varsity eight heats advanced to the grand final, and the third and fourth place teams advanced to the petite final. The remaining boats advanced to the third final.

Sacramento State's second varsity eight placed third in its heat, and will advance to tomorrow's Collegiate JV petite final (8:10 a.m.) where the team will take on UC Davis, SMU, San Diego, Tulsa and San Diego State. The Hornets' time of 7:15.94 was nearly 15 seconds faster than UC Davis' time of 7:30.47 in the heat.

The Hornets' novice eight placed second in its heat and will advance to tomorrow morning's grand final (10 a.m.) for the first time in school history. Sacramento State trailed only UCLA in this morning's heat, and will take on Washington State, Oklahoma, USC, Minnesota and UCLA in the grand final.